A Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) grassroots leader has condemned the state BN leadership for its unilateral fielding of direct candidates.

This has caused the BN component party to lose seven seats to its rival, the splinter United People's Party (UPP).

In an open letter to the chief minister, SUPP Youth central publicity and information secretary Milton Foo said he was "greatly disappointed" in state BN chief Adenan Satem's announcement of direct candidates and that the process was a "unilateral act" without consensus among the state component parties.

"The decision has gone against the consensus of Sarawak's elected representatives, which (were agreed to) by many parties including SUPP," read the statement posted on Foo's Facebook page today.

"Moreover, you did not care about your loyal political ally. You had publicly promised that SUPP will contest in Pelawan and Pujut.

"But you made a U-turn by unilaterally allocating the seats to BN direct candidates without consulting SUPP," the statement in Mandarin continued.

Foo is SUPP's candidate for the Pending state seat, against DAP incumbent Violent Yong.

Sidelined like Sarawak

Foo likened SUPP's disenfranchisement to what Sarawak had experienced following the formation of Malaysia in 1963, where along with Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah), Singapore, the four started out as equal partners.

"You said you want to reclaim Sarawak's autonomy including oil and gas royalties, you should understand the feelings of the exploited Sarawakians," said Foo.

"However, you did not consult with component parties and made the call all by yourself.

"So what's the difference with federal government's move to downgrade Sarawak from a third of a tripartite partnership to a one-thirteenth in a Federation?"

After Singapore left in 1965, Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya were legally recognised as a three-nation Federation under the 1963 Malaysia Agreement.

Following a constitutional amendment in 1976, and approved by the state government, Sarawak became the thirteenth federated state.

"Don't do unto others what you don't want others to do unto you. If you said you want to help Sarawakians to regain its pride, why did you choose to humiliate your allies' pride?

"The people want to have a chief minister who keeps his promise, and not a dictatorial leader who only says he will be leading Sarawakians to become more autonomous.

"I have to voice the truth. As a senior leader you should listen to the truth, not apple-polishing words.

"Despite the possibility of me losing the BN candidacy, still I have to voice that the Sarawak CM should not break his promises," said Foo.

In addition to the loss of two seats, Adenan has announced a further five seats to be allocated to UPP for its direct candidates to contest.

UPP was formed in 2014 when its president Wong Soon Koh left SUPP with three state assemblypersons and much of the party's support in the state's central region.

Eyes on Adenan

Foo said Adenan should not change his policies in a day to the detriment of the people and said he will continue to speak out.

"You may get people's support by introducing many pro-rakyat policies over the past two years, but it doesn't mean that you are free from scrutiny. Internal checks and balance in government is crucial.

This is the second time a grassroots leader has slammed Adenan as the state election looms. On Tuesday, Sibu SUPP chief of publicity Wong Ching Yong called Adenan's move illegal .

"The chief minister has seriously violated the BN constitution on unanimity by appointing non-BN parties as BN candidates," he said in a statement.

"The party's central working committee must lodge a complaint with the Registrar of Societies (ROS). Both party president Sim Kui Hian and secretary-general Sebastian Ting must lodge complaints," he said.

SUPP president Sim Kui Hian had twice expressed his disappointment , but had urged his members to soldier on .